Communities secretary Eric Pickles acted unlawfully in unilaterally revoking the system of regional planning strategies in England, the High Court has found today.
The court has given its judgment in the judicial review brought by housebuilder Cala Homes against the revocation of regional planning. It found that the secretary of state …

Pat Ritchie has today been appointed as interim chief executive of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA).
Ritchie is the HCA’s current director for the north-east and will take over from Sir Bob Kerslake as chief executive on 1 November.
Kerslake is moving to the Department for Communities and Local Government, where …

I’m looking to develop land for affordable housing. What do I need to take into account in the planning process to make it attractive to a registered provider of affordable housing?
Mash Halai (left) and Gareth Turner respond:
With the interim publication of Boris Johnson’s London Housing Design Guide last month, the …

Congratulations are in order for Sir Bob Kerslake after he landed himself a very senior role in Whitehall.
The position of permanent secretary is a prestigious one. While his profile will be more subdued than was required of him at the Homes and Communities Agency, his influence should be significant.
His announcement …

Local authorities are today looking at contingency plans for schemes after social housing company Connaught went into administration.
The company had fallen into financial difficulties, and yesterday KPMG was appointed as its administrator. Leeds, Norwich and other city councils that have contracts with the FTSE 250 company are now being forced …

Aberdeen City Council has approved a Local Development Plan that designates seven areas for housing across the city region.
The council’s planning committee approved the blueprint last night, agreeing that 21,000 new homes and 175 hectares of employment land would be required up to 2030, and settling on a plan for …

The £180m Rathbone Market regeneration scheme in Newham in London has secured £13m funding to enable work on the project to begin.
Development of the Rathbone Market scheme can now begin after the developer, the English Cities Fund, secured the money from the London Homes and Communities Agency. The funding was …

London mayor Boris Johnson has published a draft design guide for new homes in the city.
The plan, which is called the London Housing Design Guide, outlines standards that will apply to homes built on land owned by the London Development Agency.
It has been compiled after consultation on an earlier draft …

Much debate is raging about social housing in the UK, sparked by announcements of major housing benefit reforms.

Last week, for example, prime minister David Cameron announced plans to replace lifelong council house tenancies with five or ten-year contracts. This marks the most radical reform to social housing since the …

West Lindsey District Council has approved proposals for an an urban extension to Gainsborough in Lincolnshire to support 2,500 new homes in the area.
The plans, which have been put forward by landowner Thonock and Somerby Estates, are now subject to approval from the secretary of state. If accepted they would …